The Hour Has Come!
Scripture – John 12:23-29: Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) The hour has come! There’s a finality to that statement. It seems like this is where Jesus reached the point of no return in His heart. This is why He came. This is the path He will follow. When I say I’ll do something, the consequences of that decision begin to take shape. Sometimes I’ll change my mind. I’ll decide the cost is too much. Or God will let me know it’s not His way I’ve chosen. In any decision, though, I come to a point of finality – when in my heart I commit myself to a course of action. Accepting whatever consequences I can see and imagine, I move forward with a commitment to follow through. Jesus said, “Now my heart is troubled.” If He could feel that way, it’s certainly no sign of weakness for me to feel uneasy. The key is, will I keep moving forward?
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will keep growing today. There are parts of me that must die in order to be transformed. They’re a little too personal to describe here. But I know what they are.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, give me courage today to keep living after your example. Lift me above the fear of growth and change. Teach me to trust you on an even deeper level.
An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting this Sunday morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Cafe.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) The hour has come! There’s a finality to that statement. It seems like this is where Jesus reached the point of no return in His heart. This is why He came. This is the path He will follow. When I say I’ll do something, the consequences of that decision begin to take shape. Sometimes I’ll change my mind. I’ll decide the cost is too much. Or God will let me know it’s not His way I’ve chosen. In any decision, though, I come to a point of finality – when in my heart I commit myself to a course of action. Accepting whatever consequences I can see and imagine, I move forward with a commitment to follow through. Jesus said, “Now my heart is troubled.” If He could feel that way, it’s certainly no sign of weakness for me to feel uneasy. The key is, will I keep moving forward?
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will keep growing today. There are parts of me that must die in order to be transformed. They’re a little too personal to describe here. But I know what they are.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, give me courage today to keep living after your example. Lift me above the fear of growth and change. Teach me to trust you on an even deeper level.
An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting this Sunday morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Cafe.
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